Almost

I really like it when projects reach the "almost" point -- almost to a waypoint, almost to a blocking board, almost to a final garment.  "Almost" for me is a reminder that the glass really is half full, even on bleak, gray days like today when the wind is howling and the rain wants to be snow.

Slipper Sox Almost ready to turn the heel.  Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick.  Slipper Sox, also from LB.  Size US11 needles.  The pattern called for US13, which I bot just for this project.  Sssshhh -- I didn't swatch.  The sock would have fit the Abominable Snowman, as if he needed sox!  Frogged it and started over with US11.  Wonderful, just grand.  And very, very warm, as the yarn has 20% wool.


Heel flap done, ready to turn the heel -- almost.


PS  There's another pair just like this one waiting in the leftover yarn.




Just Plain Mittens  I found an old Leisure Arts booklet with a plain mitten pattern, using worsted yarn.  Into the leftovers I dove and came up with the Cascade 200 Superwash I'd used for the yoked sweater.  Perfect.

Almost to the hands.  The cuff needs to be about another inch and then I'll switch from US5 to US7 and in no time I'll have blue mittens.


Did you notice I'm using Magic Loop for both the sox and the mitts?  One sock on the 'loop' and two mittens on the 'loop.'


As long as the cord is long enough and has the right flexibility, this is a great method.  I'll admit to a bit of a challenge (opportunity?) with the mittens.  The circular needle is an old one with a nice long cord, but it's stiff as straw and putting it under hot water won't make it more pliable.  I think it would be great for something in lace, but I'll tough it out to finish the cuff of the mittens.  After all, I'm almost done.


Patons Kroy Sox  These are on tiny twos, the Addi Lace variety, which is a 2.5mm (vs the usual 2.75 mm that conventionally corresponds to a US2.)  I'm making my way down the leg of the sox, again using the Magic Loop method.  This time with two sox.  Short answer?  I'm 'almost' to the heel.

These 'almost' milestones are good markers for me, reminding me that soon I will have sox and mittens.  Meanwhile, I'm a process knitter so moving yarn and needles is quite satisfying, thank you very much.

Almost . . . 

Twice as nice

If one sock is wonderful then two must be glorious.  And I do not want to catch a bad case of OSS (One Sock Syndrome.)

Two at a time, Magic Loop method.  The yarn is Patons Kroy, self striping.  The needles are Addi Lace, their 2, which is 2.5 mm.

Tiny needles, tiny yarn.  Washable wool for warm sox, with
a bit of nylon.

Not sure my color choice is still available.  I'm really focusing on stash decline, as in knitting with yarn already in the house or garage.  The color is Krazy Stripes and in French it's Rayures Funky. 

Here's the free pattern I am using, though Patons offers several for this yarn.  Free Kroy Sox Pattern.  Hope you can get it -- may need a login.  I've had one for several years.  They've never 'bothered' me with emails or ads.

I'm using Magic Loop method, which means two balls of yarn and two sox, both growing at the same time.  At this point I'm about half way down the cuff or leg, on my way to the heels.

I think I just might wear these funky sox with my
reliable black flats.

The second clue arrived for the Bernat Waverly Mystery Afghan.  Hoping some of you are knitting along. 

Fierce winds here today.  Makes the relatively warm 50 something (F) feel like icy teens.  I'm now in for the duration and the needles are calling.   

May you have a blessed Lenten season.

KAL

No matter your opinion on the benefits and/or drawbacks of social networking, you have to admit that it does allow people with a common interest to 'convene' even when geography, finances, and circumstances keep them physically separate.

I have an account on www.GoodReads.com and enjoy this a lot because the focus is books and only books.  Readers come from all over, with diverse reading interests.  The demographics -- age, gender -- are also diverse and so different views emerge.  I enjoy GoodReads.

Another great example is the KAL/CAL (Knit-A-Long / Crochet-A-Long) where people who love yarn and their chosen craft can 'convene' to explore a new pattern, a new yarn, and get help from others.

I've decided to participate in two KAL's.  One will yield a sweater and the other an afghan.

This is a new acrylic from Bernat, taken from the lovely and elegant colors that you find in Waverly upholstery fabrics and wall coverings.  The afghan pattern is a mystery, which means the Afghan Master/Mistress reveals one clue every 1-2 weeks.  The idea is that you try to keep up so that your afghan is finished at the appointed time (but truly, it could just as easily go into the UFO closet.)

Links you'll need (and it's never too late to begin):  Bernat Waverly Yarn, Waverly Afghan Knit Along
I used the color tutorial to help me select the combination of yarns for the afghan.  I like the yarn; it's soft and the colors are just wonderful.  The afghan uses size US8 needles.  You'll have to join their forum to get the clues.  No big deal.

When the suggestion for a sweater KAL came from the Knitting Daily blog, I checked the pattern, checked the stash and I was good to go.  The sweater is a top-down with an increasing rib yoke.  You'll have to purchase the pattern or maybe find it in an old issue of the magazine at the library.   Everything HERE to get started -- weekly knitting expectations, link to pattern, etc.  Take it away!

Stash yarn:  Cascade 220 Superwash in a teal heather.
Needles:  US7 using a circular and Magic Loop method.

So that's what's new on the needles.  I'm binding off and decreasing for the armhole on each of the vest pieces.  Don't want to sound over-confident, but I may just get to wear the vest this winter.

Nope, not thinking about spring knitting yet.  I'm not that fond of cotton yarns unless they are blended.  I'm enjoying each of the projects on the needles and enjoy switching from one to the other.

Find the form of social networking you enjoy.  It's probably here to stay, though its path is not yet long enough for us to discover just where it's headed.  Maybe Mark Zuckerberg can tell us this on his way to the bank?

All this time

Knitter's Regrets

• All this time, since last January, the blue yarn and partially completed sweater have lain idle in a knitting bag.  
• All this time I have kept the bag near a chair in the living room where I can see it when I knit (and where I have to pick it up if/when I decide to vacuum.)  
• All this time, it's only needed a bit of finishing on the yoke and one sleeve to be completed.  
• All this time I could have been wearing this lovely blue item.

• Couldn't stand it any longer.  
• Couldn't really justify -- even to my knitting self -- that I could plan a new project and purchase new yarn.
• Couldn't any longer imagine a partially completed sweater when I wanted to wear this sweater.

Finishing it this weekend.  It's lovely.

Body of the sweater is the blue of the I-cord trim
around the neck.  The plan is to replace the shawl pin
with three special buttons.
Yarn:  Cascade 220 paints.

The yarn was purchased at Yorkshire Yarns in Lakewood (solid blue) and at Yellow House Yarns in Puyallup (Paints).  The pattern is from New England Knits and it's the one shown on the cover, though with modifications -- of course.

Two things moved me to make changes --

1. I wasn't sure I'd have enough of the solid blue and decided an entire sweater of that color just might be a bit too startling to the eyes.
2. I was absolutely sure I did not like the hem at the hip-line of the original sweater pattern.  Don't mind where it was intended to land, just prefer the flexible fitting of ribbing.
3. Also did not like the position of the buttons, right over the shoulder, so I moved the placket to left front over the ribbing.  Seems more cohesive to me, design-wise.   I'm knitting it for me, not for them.  (That's my sassy voice!)

So the yoke became the variegated yarn.  The ribbing at the base became variegated.  And just to accent the sleeves I added a few rows of purl in the variegated, so the stitch and the color would connect to the yoke.

Used a different setting on the camera.  This is closer to the
actual color.  You can see the yoke with the shawl pin in
the upper left.  Then the ribbing of the sleeve with the
accent of variegated purl stitches.
The markets indicate every 10 rows (dark purple)
and decreases (orange.)

The pattern is knit from the top down, which means the only finishing is the weaving in of yarn ends.  There's no underarm seam, no side seam.  Yoke begins at the knit row right below the ribbing; yoke ribbing is picked up and knit after the body is knit.  Short rows raise the back neck a bit.  

The attached I-cord is my idea.  I wanted something to seal off all the colors and look good around the neck.  Not sure a simple bind-off would do; can be sloppy sometimes, IMO.

The sleeves are knit from the yoke down, either on DPN's or on a long circular using Magic Loop.  This time the Magic Loop method is working for me.  After the length is established and a few decrease cycles, I'll add 4 rows of purl in the variegated.  Then a switch to a smaller needle, US7, and finish off the ribbing.

Yarn, needles, sleeve stitches -- add Knitter, stir gently while
listening to a good book and . . .

Meanwhile, I'll be spending a bit of time to finalize the notebook to send to TKGA.  Really ready for that project to be in the mail.  It counts as a massive UFO, with not enough knitting to compensate for the other work that has to be done.  Groan.

The sun has gone the way the sun does in the Pacific Northwest (west side.)  Gray clouds have returned.  Good day for knitting (and working on the notebook.)

PS  I added a new tag/label -- SWEATER! Hurrah!

Strolling toward the end

The Strolling Mitts are working up quite nicely.  The right hand is ready for thumb knitting.  The left hand is in the process of shaping the thumb, which means that putting those 15 left thumb stitches on a holder is very close at hand.

Right hand mitt is waiting to have thumb completed, while
left hand mitt is in the middle of thumb shaping.
Scarf and mitts are nice together, I think, especially
with kitty pin as a blending accessory.

I checked my DPN's that say US 6 on the label.  Danger, Batman, Danger!  The millimeter measure is quite different and I was almost had by the manufacturer.  The standard correlating millimeter measure for US 6 is 4 mm.  But check out this label -- it says 4.25 mm.

Maybe you don't think such a tiny difference would
make a difference -- but it does.  All of the Clover
needles I own that say No. 6 are, in fact, 4.25 mm.

Luckily I located my other set of US 6 DPN's, which are labeled as 4.00 mm.  If you are not a knitter, by this time you're thinking:  Do these hand knitters really have to worry about so many details?  That would drive me bananas!  Yup, it might drive you bananas and yes, it now and then drives the knitter over the edge.  Very glad I caught this difference.

I will use the 4.00mm US 6 DPN's for the thumb knitting where I have only 15 stitches.  Three stitches for each of three needles and a fourth needle for knitting.  Picture will appear in a later post.

Meanwhile, the stroller mitts are serving as a wonderful and satisfying diversion from Thuh White Shawl.  Notice the title has now become official and I've added initial capitals to seal the deal.  It's quite a mission, this shawl.  I have 2 balls of yarn remaining, each with 218 yards.  I have a goal to knit until I use up one of the two balls of yarn, reserving the last one for the crocheted fringe.

The back length of the shawl in this picture is 24", from the
top point to the bottom of the holes / stripe pattern.  The
instructions call for 36" but I am sure that if I were to knit
to 36" you would have to call someone to take me away
as I babble about yarn overs and purls.

Here's a closeup of the pattern and you gotta admit it's gorgeous.

Thuh last pattern in Thuh White Shawl

But back to the mitts -- looking good and soon to be completed.  I'm loving these detour projects, after 2 hours and 4 rows of the white shawl.  groan

Close -- very close.

Detours and staying the course.  Both of them help us to make progress in knitting and in life.  Lessons learned in each case.  Detours are sometimes risky but usually give us quicker rewards, as in sooner completed.  Staying the course teaches perseverance and commitment, with a thing of beauty as a final reward, plus the confidence to tackle something else equally (or more) complex.

Choose your path.

Detour -- another set of mitts

Addey left a comment that pointed out how fun it is to take a detour into a small, quick project -- while working on a larger one.  I call this a detour and remember, not all detours are a waste of time and fuel.

I'm forever searching for new patterns.  Often they come to me in emails from the various sites I follow.  This pattern came from Red Heart, though the original site for the pattern is not Red Heart.  I'll leave lots of breadcrumbs so you can find it if you like.

Strolling Mitts are from Stitch Nation but I got them via an email from Red Heart.  Check out Stitch Nation cuz they have knitting and crochet patterns; many are free.

Does that hot pink yarn look familiar?  It's the same yarn
as the Hat for TKGA submission.  In the upper left of the pic
you can see the thumb section.  I'v added stitches and then
put the loose stitches onto a piece of darker yarn, so I can
finish the body of the mitt.

Mistake -- again I tried to do both mitts at the same time, using Magic Loop technique.  The mistake this time was that I was trying to use just one ball of yarn.  So for one mitt I was pulling the yarn from the middle of the ball and for the other mitt I was unwrapping yarn from the outside of the ball.  Major tangles, twists, annoyance, etc.  Tooooo much time spent on untangling and untwisting. 

So after a few rows one of the mitts was side-lined to a couple of DPN's.  The second mitt stayed on the long cord US 6 circular needle, which I am using for the Magic Loop method.  I do like the method, just that it seems to work with less chaos if I knit only one thing at a time.

The Mitts are knit around, so there's no seam.  My choices are a) DPN with about 13 stitches on each of 3 needles OR b) the Magic Loop method with 20 stitches as the front 'side' and 20 as the back 'side'.  For me, at least, 20 stitches allows for a bit of 'regular knitting rhythm.'

Here's the one mitt on the long cord and the other mitt being held by the two DPNs.

That's about as far as I got before I had to choose to reduce
the chaos.  On the left you can see the lovely wooden tips
of the long circular needle.   I'm ready to begin the pattern
'side' of the mitt.  The palm side is just plain stockinette.

Addey's right.  I've taken a break from the white shawl.  While lovely and with promise of great beauty, the white shawl work can be both tedious and boring.  Each row is so time-consuming.  Sometimes I just cannot face another row of that and then a row back to begin again.  So I decided to do these mitts.

Hoping your detour choices offer both relaxation and inspiration.  At the very least, a detour gives you a break from whatever routine your knitting -- or your life -- may have created to mire you down.  Lighten the journey with a trip to a new project.

Cirque du Soleil

If you've seen Cirque you know about the contortionists, the Chinese women who can tie their bodies in knots and stand on their head, as in put their feet on top of their head.  Amazing feats, all.

I think that knitting 2-at-a-time using the Magic Loop method simulates the contortions of the Chinese acrobats.  The method is fabulous because you can complete two of the same (or even different) things at the same time.  This means that you work on pairs, like sox or hand-warmers, as pairs instead of as individual items.

But you pay a price, just as surely as the contortionist, no matter how well trained, must feel aches and pains (and BTW, who of us has ever seen an aged contortionist?)  In the case of this knitting method, there's lots of twisting and turning.  You must carry and keep track of (and try not to tangle) two balls of yarn.  At the end of each 'row' you must slide the work and the needles to re-position everything for the next row.

I've cast on and knitted about 10 rounds of a second pair of hand-warmers, this time using the Magic Loop method rather than DPN (double pointed needles.)

The pattern is called "Wave" (from 101 One Skein
Wonders.)  In this foto you can see both hand-warmers.
The one on the right is next in line for knitting.

Getting started is a contortion trick, too.  My way of maintaining order (as well as my own sanity) is to cast on the 30 stitches to one DPN.  Then I can reposition each half of this count (15) correctly onto the long circular needle.  Looks like this.

Hand-warmer on the left and hand-warmer on the right.
Two balls of yarn.  If you look closely, maybe even
consider counting, you'll find the total of 30 stitches per
hand-warmer divided in half -- 15 on the needle lying
toward the bottom and 15 on the needle lying toward the
top of the picture. 

Whew!

Knitting the first few rows of all projects takes a special form of patience -- one I've often wished I could transfer to other life situations.  Careful, watchful, a bit tedious, slow and steady.  Just a few of the adverbs that describe the action of "knitting the first row in Magic Loop method."

I recommend you try watching a few videos on YouTube.  Books are good, but the videos have the advantage of a pleasant teacher-like voice describing each step while you watch.  You might wanna begin with your needles and yarn and work along with the teacher.  Knit Picks has a wonderful tutorial if you wanna go step by step from pictures and words.  Knit Picks Tutorial.

Here's a few more pictures that try to tell the story of these hand-warmers as they are progressing.

About half way thru one half of one row.  The black
cord holds the stitches that will be knit 'on the way back.'

You can already see the ribbing offset that
makes the wave

The other pair, the cranberry colored ones, didn't take long -- and each of that pair was knit separately, (starting at the bottom and finishing at the top) before the second one was begun.  Used DPN for that pair.

Not sure I'll be able to compare either the process or the time-to-completion.

I am sure that Magic Loop is magic but requires more than a sprinkle of magic dust or a few abracadabras.  Somewhere along each row I'm un-contorting my yarn or needles.  Takes a few rows to get my feet to stand on my head.

Try it -- the world (and knitting) take on a completely different look and feel when you're standing on your head.